Okay so I had my amp and subs wired to my stock HK system and here are my problems:

-bass is amazing when IDLING but begins to get muddy and terrible as soon as I go above 40km/hr, exactly like what happens with my HK 6x9s - they used to distort once the car went faster than 40km/hr. I guess this has to do with the vehicle's speed sensitive volume control adjusting the signal on the fly.
-loud humming sound at idle

My setup:
-LOC from the main stock amp -> RCA to aftermarket amp
-remote turn on from the HK mini-amp (stupid installer)

Why is the signal changing as I drive, just like with the stock HK 6x9s? Is this solely due to the remote turn on trigger from the HK amp, and can be fixed by tapping into the MAIN amp for the trigger?

What is causing the loud humming at idle?

matty.dc

03-08-2009, 12:02 PM

usually a loud humming at idle in my experience has been a power wire running near or around the RCA's. As to the speed sensitive volume can you turn it off? I know in GM's you can and that may eliminate the distorting through different speeds.

dbworld4k

03-08-2009, 01:34 PM

You can't turn it off in the E46. I think the HK amp might have some sort of active cross-over system where it's adjusting the sound on the fly. Would this cause the problems I am describing above?

spoony_prelude

03-08-2009, 01:48 PM

buy a new car:P

Jay

Randy

03-09-2009, 03:46 AM

How about when you rev? is there a power-drop (in bass) when you rev yuor engine? do lights dim when the bass hits hardest? - you may need a capacitor

dbworld4k

03-09-2009, 10:34 AM

How about when you rev? is there a power-drop (in bass) when you rev yuor engine? do lights dim when the bass hits hardest? - you may need a capacitor

None of this happens. I moved the amp last night as I was trying to check the wiring, and somehow that did the trick. I think the wires were all squished up and coming into contact in the amps previous location, everything seems okay now (at idle anyways). I'll see how it is after driving today - hopefully I'm good to go.

matty.dc

03-09-2009, 11:33 AM

it was probably just power wires running near/beside the rca's

T.Dot_E30

03-09-2009, 11:58 AM

it was probably just power wires running near/beside the rca's

ie, picking up feedback from another wire/source.

What brand of amp? Usually cheaper amp pickup feedback easier than others.